Calculating Cost of Issue 109

Helping Residents Calculate the Cost of Issue 109

The language on the November 8 ballot reads as follows for Issue 109, the CH-UH operating levy:

"CLEVE HTS/UNIV HTS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Proposed Tax Levy (Additional)

An additional tax for the benefit of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District for the purpose of current expenses, at a rate not exceeding 5.5 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 55 cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017."

In order to calculate the cost to a homeowner, it must be noted that the valuation a levy is paid on is not the market value, but rather the assessed or taxable value, which is 35% of market value.

As an example, if the market value of a home is $100,000, the assessed/taxable value is $35,000. Per the ballot language, one would divide the $35,000 by $100 and multiply that result by 55 cents. This equals $192 per year, or $16 per month.